Mexican Cooking

When we think of Mexican cooking, tacos are first on our mind. However Mexican recipes are much more diverse than that. Next time you want to have a Mexican taco try changing it a bit by adding different fillings such as fish, turkey or chicken. Shredded pork tacos, black bean tacos or shrimp and avocado are all Mexican cooking at its best.

Some common ingredients in Mexican food are lime juice, corn, cornmeal, flour tortillas, chili peppers, papaya, avocado, pineapple and beans.

---

Get all of our International Cooking Section plus more in one ebook, free of ads and easier to use in cooking activities. Included in the ebook:

• 20+ countries information and recipes
• Dinner menu invitations to print off to create your own international night
• International quizzes
• World maps
• Geography activities

---

Mexican Food Facts

• Corn is the major food grown in Mexico
• Mexico is famous for ice sherbets and drinks such as prickly pear cactus
• Authentic Mexican and North American Mexican type food is different

Mexico is also Known for Several Famous Things:

• Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world
• Mexico has many volcanoes
• Mexico has frequent earthquakes

Learn a Little Language

• Comer con gusto means Enjoy the meal
• Buenos dias means good day
• Por Favor means Please

Mexican Cooking Recipes

Flour Tortillas

These take a little muscle work to roll out but they taste so good they are worth the extra effort.

• 4 Cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 Tablespoons oil
• 1 1/2 Cup warm water

In a mixing bowl add flour, baking powder and salt. Stir together. Pour in oil and warm water and blend together. Knead several minutes and let sit covered in plastic wrap or in a plastic container with a lid for 30 minutes. Pull off balls of dough and roll out each ball into desired size tortillas. Fry a few minutes on each side in a hot skillet. Prepare your favorite Mexican cooking recipes with your fresh tortillas.

See more about making homemade tortillas

Mexican Bean Dip

• 16 oz. Refried beans mixed with ground beef
• Guacamole homemade or store bought
• 1 Cup sour cream whisked together with taco seasoning mix
• Shredded lettuce
• Grated cheddar cheese
• Chopped tomatoes
• Chopped olives
• Chopped onions (optional)

Layer in each ingredient in order listed. Serve with tortilla chips.

Authentic Mexican Food- Tamales Recipe

Enchiladas

Try  these chicken enchilada recipes or beef & bean enchiladas recipe.

Taquitos

Brown 1 lb. hamburger with one chopped onion and 1 clove garlic, minced. Drain and add 1 cup salsa, 2 teaspoons chili powder, if desired, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Warm up flour tortillas and place beef mixture and shredded cheese on one end of tortilla wrap up tightly and place on a foil lined cookie sheet. When all tortillas are filled and rolled up brush tops of tortillas with oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. This Mexican cooking recipe should be served with guacamole, sour cream and/or salsa.

Guacamole

• 2 avocados
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 chopped tomato or desired amount of salsa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ¼ Cup sour cream, if desired.

Mash avocados and add remaining ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips.

Salsa

• Cut up tomatoes diced
• Onions however much you want
• One can mild green chilies
• 1-2 Garlic cloves, according to taste
• Salt to taste

Use as much ingredients as desired and taste as you go for a quick Mexican cooking salsa.
Or try this Pico De Gallo recipe.

Cheese Quesadillas

• 1 cup shredded Mexican or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 green onion, minced
• 1 tablespoon canned chopped green chilies or as much as desired
• 4 8-inch flour tortillas

On top of one flour tortilla mix cheese, onion and chilies. Scatter over tortilla to the edges. Top with second tortilla. Brush tops with olive oil and bake in the oven at 400 degrees until golden brown. Or fry in a tablespoon of oil in a skillet. Top with sour cream , salsa or tomatoes.
**Make this a chicken quesadillas by adding chopped marinaded chicken with the cheese.
See more quesadilla recipes.

Fajitas

Ingredients:

• 1½ lb. flank steak, sliced into thin strips
• 1 lb. bag mini sweet peppers, cut in half lengthwise and seeded
• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 T. ground cumin
• 2 t. chili powder
• ½ t. cayenne pepper
• 1 t. red pepper flakes
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• ½ c. fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 large lime, sliced

Optional:

• 1 large avocado, diced
• Corn tortillas or large lettuce leaves

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat® baking mat. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine sliced flank steak, peppers, red onion, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, and red pepper flakes. Generously season with salt and pepper, to taste, and mix until everything is well coated.
3. Spread the steak and pepper mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and roast in pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the steak reaches the desired level of doneness and the peppers are soft and slightly caramelized.
4. Remove sheet pan from oven and sprinkle with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Serve immediately with diced avocado, corn tortillas, or lettuce wraps for a low-carb option, if desired. Enjoy!

Simple Chilaquiles

Empanadas

• 1 ½ Cup flour
• 1 Cup cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 Cup butter, softened
• ½ Cup milk
• 1 lb. Ground beef
• 1 onion chopped
• ½ Cup shredded cheese

Brown hamburger and onion together in skillet. Season with salt and pepper or other taco seasoning if you choose. Drain and set aside.
Heat oven to 400. In a mixing bowl add flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar. Stir together and add soft butter. Blend together. Slowly add milk until dough forms a ball. If dough is sticky add more cornmeal. On a floured surface roll out dough and cut 3-4 inch circles with a bottom of a glass or biscuit cutter. Add cheese to the beef mixture. Place 1 teaspoon of beef in each circle. Fold each circle in half and seal edges with a fork. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
This Mexican cooking recipe is very versatile as you can add whatever fillings you desire to change the recipe. Try ham and cheese, pizza toppings or a fruit filling for a non Mexican recipe empanada.

Corn and Tomato Side Dish

• One can of corn, drained
• 1-2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 avocado diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/4 cup cilantro
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• diced red onion, optional

In serving bowl add corn, tomatoes, avocado, and onion. In measuring cup or bowl add olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper together. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Churros

This Mexican cooking dessert is delicious and kid friendly.

• 1/2 Cup water
• 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
• pinch of sugar
• 6 Tablespoons flour
• l egg yolk
• 2 whole eggs
• Oil for frying
• Powdered sugar

In saucepan heat water, butter and sugar until butter has melted and sugar is dissolved. Add flour and blend together. Turn heat to low and cook continuing to stir until mixture forms a ball. It will be dry enough to leave the pan clean. In a small bowl whisk together eggs and egg yolk. Take off heat and slowly stirring in beaten eggs. Allow to cool and then place in a ziploc bag or pastry bag. (Clip a hole at the corner if using a ziploc bag). Squeeze dough out into long sticks. Fry in hot oil until golden brown and crisp. Place on paper towel to drain. Then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Baked Not Fried Ice Cream

It is still unsure if this is an ethnic Mexican cooking.

• 3 Cups Cornflakes, crushed
• Vanilla ice cream

Place cornflakes in a ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin or kitchen mallet. Scoop vanilla ice cream in small scoops and roll in a ball. Coat with cereal. Place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Freeze several hours. Before serving broil for 30 seconds to until the cornflakes are light brown.

Easy Huevos Rancheros

Try any of these Mexican Recipes as well:

Quesadillas
Chicken Enchiladas
Beef and Bean Enchiladas
Tacos or Burritos
Taco salad bowls
Taquitos
Nachos
Taco Salad
Burrito Bowls
Chalupas
Fajitas
Shredded Beef Tacos
Taco Pie Cup
Black Bean Lettuce Wraps
Pico De Gallo
Strawberry Margarita Mocktail
Have a Mexican Fiesta Dinner complete with Pinata Cookies.

Cooking Around the World Studies

---

Related Cooking around World Pages: ~International Cooking for Kids, ~American, ~Asian, ~British, ~Eastern Europe, ~French, ~Greece, ~India, ~Irish, ~Italy, ~Mexico, ~Middle East, ~South Africa, ~Southern USA ~World Studies Unit

---

Follow Kids Cooking Activities